Traffic congestion encapsulates the daily challenge of commuters and motorists in the megalopolis that is Mega Manila (Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Metro Manila), and to a certain extent the mega cities of Cebu and Davao. It reached a point that even a popular British rock band sang about it in its Manila leg concert in early 2024, describing it as "completely insane".
The publication of the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of the House of Representatives confirmed this shared experience: Metro Manila has the worst traffic congestion among metro areas in the world, according to the TomTom Traffic Index.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., in his April 2024 vlog, said that observing discipline in the immediate sense, alongside with implementing long-term infrastructure solutions, are counterpoints in addressing this everyday struggle.
"The New Filipino (Bagong Pilipino) is a disciplined commuter and motorist. We follow traffic rules. We give way to each other on the road. If another motorist gives way to our vehicle, we wave to them as a form of saying thanks," President Marcos said. "This simple gesture provides a lot of goodwill. In the long run, we will get used to it, and giving way on the road becomes second nature," he said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which has an aggregate total budget of PHP2.6 trillion from 2022 to 2024, has a three-point solution under its Traffic Decongestion Program. This includes the High Standard Highways (HSH) and Expressways; Bypasses and Diversion Roads; and Flyovers, Interchanges and Underpasses.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) defined HSH as "highways which provide high level traffic services by assuring high speed mobility, safe and comfortable travel in order to vitally support socio-economic activities for sound development of strategic regions and the country as a whole" in its Final Report in July 2021.
The Philippine High Standard Highway Network Program targets to increase the total length of High Standard Highways and Expressways from 523 kilometers to 830 kilometers by 2028 based on the HSH Master Plan Phases I and II. The aforesaid master plan identified priority projects and developed a separate master plan for the HSH network. Improvement of the serviceability of roads, reduction of vehicle operating costs, assurance of optimal travel speed, and improvement of vehicle engine efficiency form part of the objectives of the HSH Master Plan.
The Luzon Spine Expressway Network (LSEN), touted as a "game-changing" project, leads in the traffic decongestion program of the country, specifically for its main island. Before 2024 drew to a close, the first 25 kilometers of the 30-kilometer Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEx) Phase I, the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project, and the widened Arterial Road (Plaridel) Bypass Road became operational.
Central Luzon Link Expressway
The CLLEX Project will facilitate fast, safe, comfortable, and reliable means of transport in Central Luzon as it forms an important east-west link for the expressway network of Region 3 to ensure a continuous seamless traffic flow for the motoring public from Metro Manila and vice versa passing thru North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)/Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX)/Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).
This project is part of the government's vision of easing traffic congestion and will shorten the usual travel time of 70 minutes between Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City to just 20 minutes. Project cost for CLLEX Phase I is at PHP14.936 billion with PHP11.18 billion for construction and PHP396.94 million for right-of-way payments.
Meanwhile, CLLEx Phase II is a four-lane 35.70-kilometer Cabanatuan to San Jose, Nueva Ecija extension of CLLEX Phase I passing through the municipalities of Talavera and Llanera in Nueva Ecija. The finalization of the Full Feasibility Study of the CLLEx Phase II is ongoing.
Once fully operational, CLLEx will provide a fast and safe roadway from Metro Manila to various areas in Central Luzon that is expected to further decongest Metro Manila.
NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project
The NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project, approved by NEDA in 2015 with a PhP23.2 billion budget, has an elevated four-lane toll expressway that runs approximately eight kilometers. It extends the NLEX southward from the end of Segment 10 at Circumferential Road 3 (C-3 Road), Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila, connecting to Skyway Stage 3. The expressway predominantly runs parallel to the PNR rail track.
The project has two interchanges or on and off ramps at C-3 Road in 5th Avenue, Caloocan and España Boulevard in Manila. It also has two additional interchanges or on and off ramps in Magsaysay Boulevard and PUP Sta. Mesa in Manila.
Construction began in December 2021 with Section 1 (Caloocan to España, Manila) as 100% complete and opened to traffic on March 27, 2023 while Section 2 (España, Manila-PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila) is 100% complete to-date.
The NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project, which can accommodate at least 35,000 vehicles per day, significantly shortens travel time from SLEX-Alabang to NLEX-Balintawak from two hours to 20 minutes. It cuts down transit time from Clark to Calamba from three hours to one hour and 40 minutes.
During the inauguration of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Connector Caloocan-España section, the President said: "Under the 'Build, Better, More' program, we will continue to push for the interconnectivity of major roads and expressways, as well as build even more roads and bridges in strategic places within the archipelago."
"High-impact infrastructure improvements, visible and directly felt by our people, will be credible proof that their government is indeed effectively and tirelessly working for them and applying what we have come to call the whole-of-government, whole-of-nation approach," the President said.
Arterial Road (Plaridel) Bypass Road
For the expanded Arterial Road (Plaridel) Bypass Road, which was opened on October 10, 2024, the 22.46-kilometer arterial road connects the Bulacan municipalities of Balagtas, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos and San Rafael. With the overarching objectives of alleviating traffic congestion and improving road safety, the 22.46-kilometer arterial road became an alternate route to the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway.
Project cost was at PHP5.26 billion wherein PHP4.25 billion was funded by JICA through a loan agreement and the balance of PHP1.01 billion was taken care of by the Philippine government.
CALAX and the C5 South Link
The President, in his third SONA, likewise committed to the completion of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) Project and the C5 South Link Expressway Project's Segment 3B by this year. So far, CALAX is 92.31% for the Right-of-Way acquisition and its civil works are at 66.87%, while Segment 3B is at 73.44% for the Right-of Way acquisition and its civil works are at 7.68%.
CALAX runs 44.58 kilometers with a four-lane closed system, tolled expressway, it connects the Cavite Toll Expressway Project (CAVITEX) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). The project – which begins in CAVITEX in Kawit, Cavite and ends at the SLEX-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna – cuts travel time from the two points from two hours to 35 minutes.
With a project cost of PHP12.64 billion, the C5 South Link Expressway Project's Segment 3B decreases travel period from the R-1 Expressway to SLEX or C5 from 40 minutes to 10 minutes.
The Traffic Decongestion Program, the country's long-term infrastructure solution to address the notorious traffic congestion in the megalopolis, will hopefully bring down the Philippines a couple of notches from occupying the top spot in the 2023 TomTom Traffic Index in the coming years.
Sources:
- Manila's traffic is so bad Coldplay wrote a song about it: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/22/asia/philippine-traffic-coldplay-marcos-helicopter-intl-hnk/index.html
- Facts in Figures: Traffic Congestion in Metro Manila: https://cpbrd.congress.gov.ph/2012-06-30-13-06-51/2012-06-30-13-36-50/1743-ff2024-23-traffic-congestion-in-metro-manila
- BBM VLOG #257: Traffic Solutions: https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=1171554303979821
- Pages 15 to 16 of Third SONA Transcript: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1963936/transcript-3rd-sona-of-president-ferdinand-marcos-jr
- Ang Bagong Pilipino: https://rtvm.gov.ph/ang-bagong-pilipino/
- Pages 46 onwards: https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/12341590.pdf
- DPWH Showcases 2-Year Milestones under Build, Better, More Program: https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/news/34724
- CENTRAL LUZON LINK EXPRESSWAY (CLLEx) Phase II (CABANATUAN-SAN JOSE, NUEVA ECIJA): https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/PPP/projs/cllex_phase2
- NLEX–SLEX CONNECTOR ROAD PROJECT: https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/PPP/projs/NLEX-SLEX
- NEDA Board approves NLEX-SLEX Connector Road: https://ppp.gov.ph/press_releases/neda-board-approves-nlex-slex-connector-road/Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Inauguration of the North Luzon Expressway
- (NLEX) Connector Caloocan-España Section: https://pbbm.com.ph/speeches/speech-by-president-ferdinand-r-marcos-jr-at-the-inauguration-of-the-north-luzon-expressway-nlex-connector-caloocan-espana-section/
- PLARIDEL BY-PASS ROAD (ARTERIAL ROAD BYPASS PROJECT, PHASE II): https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/PPP/projs/Plaridel_phase2
- ARTERIAL ROAD BYPASS PROJECT, PHASE III Plaridel Bypass Road Project: https://www.jica.go.jp/Resource/english/our_work/social_environmental/id/asia/southeast/philippines/c8h0vm0000bmhnt6-att/c8h0vm0000bmhnwr.pdf
- PBBM admin inaugurates Arterial Road Bypass Project, further reducing travel time between two towns in Bulacan: https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/pbbm-admin-inaugurates-arterial-road-bypass-project-further-reducing-travel-time-between-two-towns-in-bulacan/
- Expanded road bypass project in Bulacan opens: https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/10/15/2392733/expanded-road-bypass-project-bulacan-opens
- DPWH Strategic Infrastructure Programs and Projects (JICA-Assisted Projects): https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Pages/iro-macro-pres/DPWH%20Presentation%20for%20PBOF%20Tokyo%202023.pdf
- DPWH Reveals Plan to Decongest Traffic in Metro Manila: https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/news/33435#:~:text=According%20to%20Secretary%20Bonoan%2C%20traffic,reduce%20transport%20and%20logistics%20cost
- CAVITE-LAGUNA EXPRESSWAY (CALAX) PROJECT: https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/PPP/projs/cala
- C5 South Link Expressway Project (Segments 2 and 3): https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/ppp/projs/C5_South_Link